Wednesday, November 7, 2012

This crochet shell afghan pattern is easy. I've written a tutorial and taken step by step photos to show you how to do the base row and the first couple of rows that include a color change. You can find just the pattern here in my previous post.

I used a worsted weight yarn and a size I crochet hook (5.5 mm).

There are 12 different colors of yarn in my afghan. In the photo above I have started to repeat the colors a second time. The ends could be trimmed for fringe, but I will probably stop at some point and weave them in.

Dark green

Light green

Yellow

Orange

Red

Pink

Dark Purple

Light Purple

Dark Blue

Light Blue

Dark Teal

Light Teal

Chain a multiple of 6 + 1. I chained 139 for my afghan, and it measures about 40 inches wide.

For this example I chained 25 (6 X 4 + 1) . Do 2 double crochets in the 4th chain from the hook.

Skip 2 stitches. Single crochet in next stitch. Skip 2 stitches. Five double crochets in next stitch. Continue across your chain.

Here is the first row. The arrows point to the two skipped stitches.

Every row will end with a single crochet.

Every row will begin with a chain 3 and two double crochets.

One single crochet in the top of the shell (3rd double crochet).

Five double crochets in the single crochet from the row below.

Continue across ending with a single crochet in the top of the chain 3 from the row below. (This is easier to see if you scroll down to the photo where I have changed colors.)

Changing colors: When I finish a row I cut my yarn and pull the tail through the loop on my hook. When I add a new color, I tie the yarn on with an overhand knot. Then chain 3.

(I know this is not how you are supposed to add on a new color of yarn, but without a knot I have had my afghans pull loose where colors were joined because my afghans normally get lots of use!)

Do two double crochets in the same stitch.

Single crochet in top (3rd double crochet) of the shell from the row below. Five double crochets in the single crochet from the row below. Continue.

Finish the row with a single crochet.

Chain 3.

Continue the same as above until your afghan is the desired length or until you run out of yarn.

That's it. Once you get the base row done, each row is the same. I think this is an easy, relaxing pattern and hope you enjoy it!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Crochet Shell Afghan Pattern
This is my progress on my Crochet Shell Afghan so far. This is really an easy pattern. I'll post just the pattern today. I'm working on a tutorial and will have it ready to post sometime tomorrow.

Chain a multiple of 6 + 1

For my afghan I chained 139 loosely. (It measures approximately 40 inches wide. I'm using a worsted weight yarn and an I hook-5.5 mm)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

I was searching for a pattern in my notebooks the other day, when I came across an old pattern from 1995 simply called: Shell Afghan. My friend Carol and I used to get together as often as we could and put on a pot of flavored coffee and pull out our yarn and crochet hooks and talk the days and nights away while we crocheted.

This shell pattern was in my notebook in Carol's handwriting. It really is easy, and I was in the mood to start something new so I decided on this shell afghan after I found the pattern.

I'm trying to grade the colors in the afghan with the yarn that I have.

You can see that the shell pattern is easy to do. It's 5 double crochets and then a single crochet.